And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
- KJV And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
- NKJV The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
- NASB And the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
- NLT The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The LORD is with Joseph, and he prospers even as a slave in an Egyptian's house.
Overview
Despite his lowly status, Joseph flourishes because the LORD's presence accompanies him. The text emphasizes that true prosperity flows from God's nearness, not from circumstances. This 'God with us' theme anticipates Immanuel, Christ, in whom God dwells with His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- 1 Sam 18:14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.
- Ps 91:15When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
- Jer 15:20Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.
- Gen 26:28“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
- Acts 7:9–10Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
- Gen 21:22At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
- Isa 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Gen 26:24and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”
- Gen 39:21–22the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Gen 28:15Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
- Ps 1:3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- 1 Sam 16:18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
- Ps 46:7The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- 1 Sam 3:19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
- 1 Cor 7:20–24Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
- Isa 8:9–10Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- 1 Sam 18:28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
- Titus 2:9–10Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
- Matt 1:23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
- 1 Tim 6:1All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
- Acts 8:31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 39:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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